Apparatus and methods for forming deck edging for swimming pools

ABSTRACT

Apparatus is provided for constructing edging for a deck of a swimming pool having a retractable pool cover, wherein an elongated track for the pool cover is attached to a wall of the swimming pool. The apparatus comprises a form member shaped to form the edging, and a support member adapted to removably couple to the elongated track and the form member. A method is provided for constructing edging for a deck of a swimming pool having a retractable pool cover, wherein an elongated track for the pool cover is attached to a wall of the swimming pool, comprising removably coupling a support member to the elongated track, and removably coupling a form member, shaped to form the edging, to the support member.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to swimming pools, and, more particularly, to apparatus and methods for forming deck edging for swimming pools.

BACKGROUND

Swimming pools are commonly covered to prevent debris from entering the pool, to preserve chemical treatments in the water and to heat the pool in the case of a solar cover. An automatic pool cover provides convenience for a user by allowing the cover to be easily extended over the pool during periods of non-use, and retracted during periods of use. Typically, automatic pool covers utilize a track assembly built into the walls for guiding the cover and the leading edge bar of the cover as it traverses the pool.

In forming the coping and edging around the perimeter of pools it is useful to employ a mechanism in or attached to the pool walls that will provide uniformity in the coping and that can be easily installed and removed. Current forms are typically made of disposable materials, such as styrofoam, wood forms or other such materials. Such forms might be attached to the pool by two-sided tape or other temporary means, making the forms susceptible to being damaged during removal. Consequently, the new forms have to be used for each installation.

In a copending patent application, U.S. Ser. No. 10/290,548, reusable deck edging forms are described, such as the deck edge forming structure 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As seen in FIG. 1, a concrete form 12 is adapted to mate to an elongated track 14 which is embedded or encapsulated in a swimming pool wall for guiding a pool cover edge. Form 12 includes a shaping section 16 and a bottom portion 18, the latter of which extends into a channel 20 of track 14. Bottom portion 18 includes structure 22 on top of portion 18 that is adapted to mate with structure 23 on the bottom of top wall 24 of the elongated track 14.

FIG. 2 shows deck edge forming structure 10 coupled together and abutting a concrete deck 30. Concrete form 12 and elongated track 14 are fully coupled with structures 22 and 23 mated, and are secured together by a spacer 32. The concrete deck 30 is formed with the edge 31 formed in the shape of the concrete form 16. After the deck has formed and hardened, concrete form 12 is removed from channel 20, so that a pool cover guide extrusion can be inserted (not shown). For purposes of this application, the terms “mate” and “mating” are substantially synonymous with “couple” or “coupling” and shall be construed broadly to mean being in contact, in an adjoining relationship, fit together, joined, or connected.

One problem encountered with the structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is that only certain relatively conservative edge shapes could be formed. After the concrete was poured the form had to be removed from the edges. The form usually needed to be rotated somewhat to be removed, which occasionally caused the form to strike fresh concrete, risking damage to the deck edging. Thus, it was difficult to form aggressive edge shapes, such as cantilevered edges, for a pool deck. Moreover, it was sometimes desirable to remove a form before the edge was hardened, to enable the application of decorative designs to the edge. The apparatus described above might leave such an unhardened edge without much, if any, support, thereby risking the collapse of the edge, particularly if it was cantilevered or otherwise protruded substantially.

SUMMARY

In one implementation, apparatus is provided for constructing edging for a deck of a swimming pool having a retractable pool cover, wherein an elongated track for the pool cover is attached to a wall of the swimming pool. The apparatus comprises a form member shaped to form the edging, and a support member adapted to removably couple to the elongated track and the form member.

In another implementation, a method is provided for constructing edging for a deck of a swimming pool having a retractable pool cover, wherein an elongated track for the pool cover is attached to a wall of the swimming pool, comprising removably coupling a support member to the elongated track, and removably coupling a form member, shaped to form the edging, to the support member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this disclosure, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following description of an implementation of the disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a prior structure used to form deck edging for a swimming pool;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the structure shown in FIG. 1 together with concrete decking for a swimming pool;

FIG. 3 is a plan exploded cross-sectional view of an implementation of the apparatus for forming deck edging, according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 4A is a plan view of the implementation of FIG. 3 showing the elements coupled together, according to the present disclosure;

FIGS. 4B and 4C are plan views of other implementations showing form members shaped differently than in FIGS. 3 and 4A, according to the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the implementation shown in FIG. 4B, according to the present disclosure;

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one implementation of the disclosure, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 3, an implementation of the two-piece deck edge forming system 40 according to the present disclosure is shown. Form member 42 is structured to form an edge 44 for the decking 46 of a swimming pool (not shown). Form member 42 includes a form portion 48 to shape edge 44 and a mating portion 50 to adapt to mate with a form mating portion 51 of a support member 52. The edge 44 as shown may be substantially straight and horizontally-spaced from a wall 56 of the swimming pool, so that the edge 44 may be “cantilevered,” that is extended horizontally beyond the wall 56. An elongated track 54 is embedded between the decking 46 and a wall 56 of the swimming pool. A track mating portion 53 at one end of support member 52 is shaped to conform to a corresponding support mating portion 55 on the elongated track 54. It can be seen that, with the support member 52 in mating position with elongated track 54, vertical support is provided for the cantilevered edge 44, even with form member 42 removed.

FIG. 4A shows the assembly of FIG. 3 with the separate members mated together and supported to form the cantilevered edge 44, shown in FIG. 3. Form 42 is coupled to support member 52, which in turn is coupled to elongated track 54. Portion 50 on form member 42 is joined with form mating portion 51 and is secured in place by a clamp 60. A splice coupling channel 49 is provided to align and couple form 42 to other adjacent forms (not shown) using a common splice, such as a long board or channel iron (not shown).

Track mating portion 53 of support member 52 is mated with support mating portion 55 of track 54. Track 54 and support member 52 are secured together by a spacer 62 wedged into the main channel 64 of track 54. Spacer 62 may be an elongated piece, such as a piece of wood, or it may be a plurality of thin spacers placed at spaced positions along the elongated track 54.

FIG. 4B shows another implementation 70 of the present disclosure involving a different shaped form member 72. Form member 72 has a curved “bull nose” shape which will cause the deck edging (not shown) to assume the same shape. Support member 82 has the same shape as support member 52 in FIGS. 3 and 4A and is shown mated with form member 72. As in FIG. 4A, a channel 79 is provided for aligning and coupling to adjacent form members (not shown). Likewise, form member 72 includes a mating portion 80 conforming to the shape of a form mating portion 81 on support member 82. A clamp or other securing means (not shown) holds the form member 72 and the support member 82 in a mated position.

FIG. 4C shows another implementation 90 of the present disclosure involving a different shaped form member 92. Form member 92 has an inclined shape which will cause the deck edging (not shown) to assume the same shape. Support member 102 has the same shape as support member 52 in FIGS. 3 and 4A and is shown mated with form member 92. As in FIG. 4A, a channel 99 is provided for aligning and coupling to adjacent form members (not shown). Likewise, form member 102 includes a mating portion 100 conforming to the shape of a form mating shape 101. A clamp or other securing means (not shown) holds the form member 92 and the support member 102 in a mated position. Support member 102 includes a track mating surface 103 for mating with an elongated track (not shown).

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the implementation shown in FIG. 4C, showing the apparatus 90 of FIG. 4C coupled to an elongated track 110. Elongated track 110 has substantially the same shape as elongated track 54 in FIGS. 3 and 4A. The mating portion 100 of inclined form member 92 is secured to the form mating portion 101 of support member 102 by a clamp 104. The track mating portion 103 of support member 102 is mated with the support mating portion 105 of elongated track 110. Thin spacers 112 are positioned in channel 114 of elongated track 110 to secure the mating portions 103 and 105 of support member 102 and elongated track 110 in mating position.

Although not shown in FIG. 5, it is understood that elongated track 110 is secured between a deck and wall of a swimming pool, similar to that shown in FIG. 3. It is further understood that the apparatus 90 is positioned for the deck edging concrete to be poured and hardened, similar to that shown in FIG. 3.

The foregoing implementations have several advantages, including the following. The form members that are used to form the deck of the swimming pool may be removed before the deck edging has hardened, thereby enabling the application of various designs on the edging. The support member remains in place to support the deck edging until it is completely hardened, thereby enabling the fabrication of aggressive deck edging shapes, such as those shown in FIGS. 4A-C. Moreover, the used of a support member enables the removal of form members in a horizontal direction so that the hardening deck edging will not be disturbed.

Although the above implementations are representative of the present disclosure, other implementations will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of this specification and the appended claims, or from a practice of the implementations of the disclosed disclosure. It is intended that the specification and implementations therein be considered as exemplary only, with the present disclosure being defined by the claims and their equivalents. 

1. Apparatus for constructing edging for a deck of a swimming pool having a retractable pool cover, wherein an elongated track for the pool cover is attached to a wall of the swimming pool, comprising: (a) a form member shaped to form the edging, and (b) a support member adapted to be removably coupled to the form member and to removably couple the form member to the elongated track.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the form member includes a portion adapted to removably couple to the support member.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the portion of the form member includes structure to mate with structure on the support member.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support member has a first portion adapted to removably couple to the elongated guide track, and a second portion adapted to removably couple to the form member.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first portion of the support member includes structure to mate with structure on the elongated guide track.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second portion of the support member includes structure to mate with structure on the form member.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a coupling member for removably coupling the form member to the support member.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the coupling member is adapted to removably secure the structure on the form member in a mating relationship to the structure of the second portion of the support member.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the form member includes a alignment member thereon for aligning and coupling the form member to adjacent form members.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the alignment member is a channel formed to accept a splice member for aligning and coupling the form member to the adjacent form members.
 11. Apparatus for constructing edging for a deck of a swimming pool having a retractable pool cover, wherein an elongated track is attached to a wall of the swimming pool for coupling to a guide member for the pool cover, comprising: a form member shaped to form the edging, and a support member having a first portion adapted to removably mate to the elongated guide track, and having second portion adapted to removably mate to the form member.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the form member includes a portion adapted to removably mate to the second portion of the support member.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first portion of the support member includes track mating structure to mate with structure on the elongated track.
 14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second portion of the support member includes form mating structure to mate with structure on the form member.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1 1, further comprising a coupling member for removably securing the form member to the support member in a mating relationship.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the coupling member is a removable clamp.
 17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the form member has a support member mating structure on a bottom portion of the form member adapted to mate with the support member.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second portion of the support member has a form member mating structure on a top portion of the support member to mate with the support member mating structure.
 19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first portion of the support member includes a track mating structure to mate with a support member mating structure on the elongated track.
 20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the form member is removably secured to the support member so that it may be removed from the support member before the edging has hardened without damaging the edging.
 21. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the form member is shaped to form a cantilevered shaped edging.
 22. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the form member is shaped to form a bull-nose shaped edging.
 23. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the form member is shaped to form an inclined shaped edging.
 24. A method for constructing edging for a deck of a swimming pool having a retractable pool cover, wherein an elongated track for the pool cover is attached to a wall of the swimming pool, comprising: (a) removably coupling a support member to the elongated track, and (b) removably coupling a form member, shaped to form the edging, to the support member.
 25. The method of claim 24, further comprising removably mating the form member to the support member.
 26. The method of claim 24, further comprising removably mating a first portion on the support member to the elongated track, and removably mating a second portion on the support member to the form member.
 27. The method of claim 24, further comprising coupling the form member and the support member with a removable coupling member.
 28. The method of claim 24, further comprising removably coupling the form member with adjacent form members.
 29. The method of claim 24, wherein the form member is mated to the support member, so as to be removed after the edging is formed.
 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the form member is mated to the support member, so as to be removed before the edging has hardened.
 31. A method for constructing edging for a deck of a swimming pool having a retractable pool cover, wherein an elongated track is attached to a wall of the swimming pool for coupling to a guide member for the pool cover, comprising: (a) removably mating a first portion of a support member to an elongated track, and (b) removably mating a second portion of the support member to a form member shaped to form the edging.
 32. The method of claim 31, comprising removably mating the second portion of the support member to a support member mating structure on the form member.
 33. The method of claim 31, comprising removably mating the first portion of the support member to a mating structure on the elongated track. 